Mr. Immigration Man, Part II-Chapter 7




Tony is sitting on the couch in the middle of the Jones Brothers' Cabin. He is contemplating the complete mess that he has made of his life.

He is remembering the last time that he was here with Carly.

He remembers Bobbie catching them in bed.

He remembers the life that he had. How he had treated Bobbie when she came back from the Dominican Republic with a divorce in hand.

He is thinking of Carly and all her lies and what it all means.

" I've been a complete ass."

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Stefan is with Alexis in the conservatory, which is almost finished.

" I proposed to Barbara."

" And how did it go?"

" About as well as can be expected."

" That well...eh?"

" I knew that this would not be easy, Alexis. I knew that Barbara would take some convincing. BUT, she did not throw me out when I asked. I believe that's something."

" Thank goodness for small miracles."

" She did ask me for a million dollars."

" Excuse me?"

" In order for her to consider the proposal, she wanted a non-refundable check for one million dollars."

" And you gave it to her?"

" Of course. She was testing my resolve. To see if I was serious. The money is incidental. What is not incidental is that I did not hesitate for a moment to give it to her. Which should prove to her how serious I am about the proposal."

" Do you really think that she will remarry you?"

" I am certain of it."

" Why?"

" If for no other reason, curiosity. She knows that I want something from her. And if she has to marry me in order to discover what it is, she'll do it. She is Luke Spencer's sister after all. And that sense of adventure is in her blood."

" Well, you better make sure that she does not find out the real reason you want to marry her, because I am sure that she would be at the airport waving goodbye to you as Immigration deports you."

" That will NOT happen."

" I am glad that you are so self-assured. Are there any terms of your marriage contract that I should know about?"

" There is one out of the ordinary ."

" And it is..."

" If Barbara finds proof of infidelity on my part, control of General Hospital reverts to her."

" Bobbie would control GH?"

" Yes."

" And you AGREED to this?"

" I had to. Barbara believes that I have broken up my liaison with Katherine. I doubt that she would agree to marry me with Katherine as my mistress."

" Be careful, Stefan. Bobbie is nobody's fool. She sensed things between you and Katherine before. What would make you think that she would not pick up on those vibes now?"

" Katherine understands that she cannot act friendly towards me in public. She understands why our relationship must be covert at this time. Until I get my citizenship and can leave Barbara."

" Stefan, I know that your capabilities of manipulation are legendary. I grew up watching you develop them. But juggling two women is not an easy thing to do. Especially two who are as demanding as Bobbie and Katherine. I know what Katherine says now about being your mistress...but what about when the Holiday's come...and.."

" I said I would handle the situation, Alexis! NOW, drop this line of conversation."

" Alright. I wish you luck. And hope that Bobbie does indeed accept your proposal. I have some work to do. Goodbye, cousin."

" Alexis."

They kiss and she leaves. He picks up the telephone.

" Katherine Bell."

" Katherine, I need to see you. I will be by to pick you up within the hour. I want to show you something."

" I will be ready, Stefan."

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Luke is on the stoop of the Brownstone when Felicia comes.

" Luke, what the hell are you doing here?"

" Waiting for Bobbie."

" She's not at home."

" No."

" Why didn't you use your key? Oh, that's right, she changed the locks."

" So I found out when I tried my old ones."

" You want to come in and talk about things to me."

" Yeah, sure."

They get into Felicia's apartment and she fixes Luke some tea. They are sitting on the couch.

" So, what's up with you and Bobbie?"

" What do you mean?"

" I mean, I have never seen you look so down. And Bobbie has been acting so strange lately. Something is bothering her, but she won't talk about it."

" I can't talk about it either. Needless to say, things are more than a bit strained between myself and Barbara Jean."

" OK. I won't push. ...You wanna get back to the trip that we took in Europe?"

" Sure. What about it?"

" I was wondering if you had given any thought as to why Mac and I could not track you through credit card receipts. YOU say that you used the cards almost everyday."

" I did."

" But we couldn't find a trace of you, not at all. And then there was that incident at the airport."

" All of our stuff was gone. "

" Yes. Don't you find that curious."

" Not so curious if you know what rocks to look under."

" And you know what rocks?"

" I think I do. But..."

" You can't go into that either, right?"

" Yes."

" For one of the most talkative men that I know, this vow of silence is quite disturbing."

" Filly, when I CAN..."

" I know...you WILL.."

Felicia and Luke hear a key in the door. They hear Bobbie and Lucas come in.

" Thanks for the tea."

Luke dashes out the apartment and runs into Bobbie.

" Bobbie."

" Go away, Luke."

" You can't do this forever."

" What part of 'Go Away' don't you understand. GO or AWAY. I really thought you were smarter than that Luke."

" We HAVE to talk."

" There you go again. Telling me what I HAVE to do. Sorry, you don't get to do that anymore. I told you. Take me off your pity list. I don't want you in my house, Luke. Get out. I don't care where you go, but you gotta get the hell out of here. Bye."

Bobbie slams the door in Luke's face. Felicia pretends that she did not see it.

Luke goes outside and sits on the stoop. Felicia comes out.

"You'll catch a cold if you stay out there. Why don't you sleep in the hall. Since everyone is in, you won't get caught in the drafts and I'll bring out some camping gear."

" You are a good one."

" Don't I know it."

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Bobbie sat on her bed looking at the bank statememt. The transfer of one million dollars from Stefan's account to hers was confirmed. The money was in her account, for her to use.

Seeing Luke just now...only got her angry all over again.

She turned off the lights and was on her bed, thinking of all she had done.

a) cutting Luke out
b) cutting Tony out of Lucas' life
c) confronting Carly
d) the proposal from Stefan. WHY? didn't she just throw him out when she saw him in her living room? Why did she even let him go on with his "proposal"?

(to herself) " Stefan wants something from me. The man doesn't get dressed without a plan. I admit, I want to find out what it is. And why it is important enough for him to give me this money. What other kind of a life do I have? Misery and betrayal. At least this cat and mouse game will be fun..Amusing, I hope."

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Stefan and a blindfolded Katherine are walking into a house. Stefan takes the blinfold off Katherine, who is stunned to see a wonderful, romatically decorated cottage.

" Stefan, what is this place?"

" This place, Katherine, will be our retreat from the world. Where we can create our own world. Yours and mine."

" It's so lovely. Not too large or too small. Just right. It's so romantic. So, are we the only two who know about it?"

" Yes. I wanted a place for us to be as one where we would not have to worry about the outside world. Would you like to take a tour?"

" Of course."

" Well, here is the living room, the dining room. The kitchen. And we can go upstairs.."

" Come on."

They make it upstairs. Katherine is kissing all over Stefan.

" Katherine. Please... There were two bedrooms, but I had them combined into one master one with a magnificent bathroon."

(as she continues to kiss him) " Uh huh "

" Don't you want something to eat, first?"

" No. Just you."

" Whatever you wish."

They proceed to make love. As Katherine is lying asleep in bed next to him, Stefan is still on edge and restless. He has serious pent up desires left in him. He looks at Katherine and wonders how he is going to make it through these love sessions with her. How he could be so completely unfulfilled. After all, she is what he wanted. How could she give out after such a small time of lovemaking. Due to their last experience at Wyndermere, he made pains to not frighten her with his true self. He convinced himself that he could ease Katherine into his real boudior persona. And that the next time would be more satisfying.

He was also pleased at his selection of a love nest. Nestled in the woods, obscure from the road, no one would come here unless they were looking for the house. He was glad that he had had one of his dummy corporations purchase the house from Alan Quartermaine. Stefan wondered, though, as to why Alan would have this house in the first place. Oh, well, none of his concern. He had found the perfect place for himself and his Katherine. And Barbara would be none the wiser. Stefan went to take a cold shower.

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Emily Quartermaine is sitting in her room when Edward comes in.

" Did you see what I got you?"

" Grandfather, what did you do now?"

" You told me of your new hobby of astronomy, so I thought that you should be equipped to go full throttle."

" Which means?"

" Look out on the deck."

Emily goes out on her deck and sees this shiny, gorgeous new telescope.

" Grandfather! You shouldn't have. This is better than the one at school."

" I hope so. I think that I can do better than some public school. Go ahead, try it out."

Emily goes to the telescope.

" WOW! This thing is so clear. I can see all over town. I see General Hospital. The Outback. Charles Street. ELQ Headquarters, Wyndams.. I am amazed at the clarity. Look, in the woods. Hey, I did not know that there was a house over there. I think I see some people there, let's see if I can focus and see who it is...Almost.."

There is a knock on the door.

" Who is it?"

" Sorry, Mr. Quartermaine, Miss Emily. Mrs. Quartermaine says that you all should have been downstairs for her dinner party."

" Reginald..blast it. Can't you tell her you didn't find us?"

" Come on, Mr. Quartermaine. Don't I have enough problems in my life?"

Emily Laughs. " Grandfather. Stop trying to get Reginald to do your dirty work for you. You knew Grandmother was going to get us. So let's get going."

When she was coming into the room, Emily had knocked the telescope viewer off the cottage. Stefan's cottage. The same cottage that Alan used when he had Susan Moore as his mistress.